‘We knew a cyclone was imminent’:Hazard preparedness and disaster management efficiency nexus in coastal Bangladesh

"Natural hazard-prone countries in the global south adopted an anticipatory-preparedness approach in disaster risk reduction (DRR) by shifting away from the response and rehabilitation approach. It was highly associated with the policy recommendations of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) framework. Nevertheless, challenges remained in managing disaster risks due to heterogeneous efficiency among disaster managers. This research examines the institutional effectiveness of the disaster management agency in cyclone-prone areas in southwestern coastal Bangladesh through network analysis. This research also explores institutional efficiency’s impact on household preparedness in mitigating losses. We collected two distinct data sets from the local Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) and households in the same operational area of UDMC that were at risk of cyclonic disasters. To evaluate the effectiveness of local disaster management institutions, we conducted structured interviews with 336 representatives, spanning eight UDMCs in the cyclone-prone regions. To assess the impact of institutional performance (specifically, the UDMCs) on household disaster preparedness and loss mitigation, we collected data from 696 at-risk households. These households were located within the operational zones of the eight UDMCs, and the data was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Based on the application of social network analysis, our findings demonstrated that UDMC members were more active in the aftermath of disasters, as confirmed by three centrality measures - degree, eigenvector, and betweenness. Consequently, upon employing the Negative Binomial and Poisson regression models, we found a positive association between household engagement with UDMCs and participation in disaster preparedness training. This training appeared to enhance the knowledge and capacity of the respondents. The spill-over effects from disaster preparedness appeared to bolster the resilience of at-risk households, assist them in avoiding disaster-induced damages, and maintain consumption stability in the wake of disasters.

In vivo antioxidant activity of mackerel (Scomber japonicus) muscle protein hydrolysate

Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is an important fish throughout the world, especially in East Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. Protein hydrolysates from marine sources are commonly used as nutritional supplements, functional ingredients, and flavor enhancers in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Antioxidants isolated from fish are relatively easy to prepare, are cost effective, and have no reported side effects. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the in vivo antioxidant activities of mackerel muscle protein hydrolysate (MMPH) prepared using Protamex. The in vivo bioactivities of MMPH were investigated in alcoholic fatty liver mice (C57BL/6). Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were comparable in test and control mice, whereas serum triglyceride and lipid peroxidation levels significantly (p < 0.05; p < 0.001) decreased after administration of MMPH (100–500 mg kg−1), especially at a concentration of 100 mg kg−1. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in xanthine oxidase activity was observed in all groups treated with MMPH (100–500 mg kg−1), as compared with the control group. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity/protein expression and regulated catalase (CAT) activity/protein expression levels were observed in groups administered MMPH (100–500 mg kg−1), especially at a concentration of 100 mg kg−1. These results show that the abundant amino acids of S. japonicus play an important role in the cytosol of the liver cells by directly participating in the expression of xanthine oxidase and the detoxifying SOD and CAT proteins, thereby enhancing antioxidant ability and ultimately, inhibiting lipid peroxidation. This study demonstrated that muscle protein hydrolysate from S. japonicus has strong antioxidant activities

Physicochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Cookies Prepared with Untapped Seaweed Ulva intestinalis: An Approach to Value Addition as a Functional Food

The present study was investigated to know the sensory, physicochemical, nutritional and fatty acid properties of seaweed-based cookies prepared with untapped seaweed Ulva intestinalis (UI) from Bangladesh coast. The cookies were formulated with different percentages of UI inclusions both in powdered (PUI) and fragmented (FUI) forms, in order to evaluate different quality attributes in prepared value-added cookies. In sensory analysis, seaweed inclusion levels of 1% PUI, 2.5% PUI, 1% FUI, 2.5% FUI and 5% FUI to cookies were acceptable by panelists. Considering the maximum percentage of seaweed inclusions, 2.5% PUI and 5% FUI were selected for further analysis. The results of physicochemical properties such as moisture content, spread factor, baking loss, pH, cookie density, color, texture properties, volatile basic nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive species were within acceptable limits. In nutritional analysis, 2.5% PUI and 5% FUI cookies showed a remarkable and significant increase in lipid and ash contents, compared to untreated controls. Being the first report on fatty acids profile by UI from Bangladesh, among 24 fatty acids identified, the amount of total saturated, mono-unsaturated, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids were reported to be 641.9 (36.2%), 563.7 (31.8%), 133.8 (7.6%) and 436.3 (24.6%) &mu;g/g DW, respectively. The results suggest that cookies with 2.5% PUI and 5% FUI can be marketed as healthy foods for consumers

Examining local institutional networks for sustainable disaster management: Empirical evidence from the South-West coastal areas in Bangladesh

Local social networks are vital contributor to community resilience and recovery from disasters. We aim to assess how collaboration among local formal actors varies during different phases of disaster. We also identify the gaps in local institutional collaboration between policy and practice. The social network analysis is used to measure the network structure for coastal disaster management at the bottom level administrative (i.e., Union) in Bangladesh. We consider three disaster-prone locations in the southwest part of coastal Bangladesh. The following network matrices are used to quantify ties among the actors of the local disaster management committee: degree, betweenness, and eigenvector. The results reveal that the local committee members are highly active during the preparedness and the response phase. The network structure varies among studied locations due to multiple factors such as diverse leadership capacities of the actors, road network, and physical characteristics of the areas. Although Bangladesh is internationally acknowledged for disaster management activities, we find very poor collaboration among actors during the recovery and mitigation phase. The collaboration and coordination need to be enhanced during the recovery and mitigation phases for sustainable disaster management. The actual implementation of the disaster management policies is far behind what the policy documents indicate. Proper implementation of the roles and responsivities specified in the policy documents is therefore needed

Microwave-Induced Modification of Physical and Functional Characteristics and Antioxidant Potential of Alkali-Soluble Cell Wall Polysaccharides of Nelumbo nucifera Rhizome

The alkali-soluble cell wall polysaccharides (CWPs), extracted from Nelumbo nucifera rhizome flour (NNRF), were treated with microwave radiation to modify their physical characteristics, functional properties, and antioxidant potential. The NNRF was treated at different levels of microwave treatment time (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min) using the low-medium intensity (200 W). The cell wall was isolated and CWPs were extracted in 10% KOH solution followed by their physical, functional, and antioxidant characterization. Microwave treatment resulted in the morphological, structural and compositional modifications in CWPs that were directly correlated with their functional properties and antioxidant potential. A significant (p \u3c 0.05) time-dependent exponential decrease in extract yield, exponential increase in water holding, oil holding, and swelling capacities, a polynomial increase in iron-binding capacity, and a linear increase in antioxidant properties including Trolox equivalent total antioxidant activity, ferrous reducing power, and free radical scavenging capacity of microwave-treated CWPs was observed. The increase in the studied functional and antioxidant potential of the treated samples may be due microwave-induced exposure of hydroxyl groups and uronic acid residues in CWPs. The data would be a valuable contribution to the literature regarding microwave-induced modification in physical, functional and antioxidant properties of CWPs of N. nucifera rhizome

Evaluation of the Quality Characteristics and Development of a Puffed-Rice Snack Enriched with Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Drone Pupae Powder

Edible insect ingredients have gained importance as environmental-friendly energy sources world-wide; the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae has gained prominence as a nutritional material. In this study, bee drone pupae were processed under different heating and drying conditions and incorporated into a puffed-rice snack with honey. The sensory, physicochemical, nutritional and microbial qualities of drone pupae powders were tested. The deep-fried and hot-air dried powder was selected; the values of 5.54% (powder) and 2.13% (honey) were obtained on optimization with honey by response surface methodology. Subsequently, the puffed-rice snack product enriched with drone pupae powder was stored at different temperatures for 180 days. The prepared product showed a higher content of proteins, fats, amino acids, and fatty acids compared to the control. The high content of a few minerals were maintained in the processed powder and the product, whereas heavy metals were not detected. The storage test indicated acceptable sensory qualities and safety results, considering important quality parameters. Thus, drone pupae powder and the developed product can be consumed as nutritional food materials; the quality characteristics can be improved through optimal processing

Yield optimization, physicochemical characterizations, and antioxidant properties of food grade agar from Gracilaria tenuistipitata of Cox's Bazar coast, Bangladesh

Abstract The present study was aimed at investigating the optimization of extraction variables for food grade quality agar from Gracilaria tenuistipitata, so far, the first study on Bangladeshi seaweed. Water (native)‐ and NaOH (alkali)‐pretreated agars were comparatively analyzed by several physicochemical parameters. All extraction variables significantly affected the agar yield in both extraction conditions. Alkali‐pretreated agar provided a better yield (12–13% w/w) and gel strength (201 g/cm2) in extraction conditions as followed by 2% NaOH pretreatment at 30°C for 3 h, seaweed to water ratio at 1:150, and extraction temperature at 100°C for 2 h. Gelling and melting temperatures, color, and pH values of both agars were found to be comparable with commercial agar. Significantly higher sulfate contents including organic and inorganic and total carotenoids were reported in native (3.14% and 1.29 μg/mL) than that in alkali‐pretreated agar (1.27% and 0.62 μg/mL). FTIR spectrum demonstrated the purity of the agar as characterized by the stronger relative intensity with higher degree of conversion of L‐galactose 6‐sulfate to 3,6‐anhydrogalactose in alkali pretreatment group than that of native ones. Moreover, antioxidant activity (% DPPH scavenging) was observed and confirmed by IC50 values of 5.42 and 9.02 mg/mL in water‐ and alkali‐pretreated agars, respectively. The results suggested that agar from G. tenuistipitata with optimized alkali extraction conditions could promote cost‐effective yield with improved physicochemical characteristics and biofunctional values upon consumption by the consumers as food materials

Gelidium amansii Attenuates Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Oxidative Injury in Primary Hippocampal Neurons through Suppressing GluN2B Expression

Oxidative stress is known to be critically implicated in the pathophysiology of several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease and ischemic stroke. The remarkable neurotrophic activity of Gelidium amansii, which has been reported consistently in a series of our previous studies, inspired us to investigate whether this popular agarophyte could protect against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced oxidative injury in hippocampal neurons. The primary culture of hippocampal neurons challenged with H/R suffered from a significant loss of cell survival, accompanied by apoptosis and necrosis, DNA damage, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (&Delta;&Psi;m), which were successfully attenuated when the neuronal cultures were preconditioned with ethanolic extract of G. amansii (GAE). GAE also attenuated an H/R-mediated increase of BAX and caspase 3 expressions while promoting Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, the expression of N-methyl-d-acetate receptor subunit 2B (GluN2B), an extrasynaptic glutamate receptor, was significantly repressed, while synaptic GluN2A expression was preserved in GAE-treated neurons as compared to those without GAE intervention. Together, this study demonstrates that GAE attenuated H/R-induced oxidative injury in hippocampal neurons through, at least in part, a potential neuroprotective mechanism that involves inhibition of GluN2B-mediated excitotoxicity and suppression of ROS production, and suggests that this edible seaweed could be a potential source of bioactive metabolites with therapeutic significance against oxidative stress-related neurodegeneration, including ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases

Effect of hot smoking treatment in improving Sensory and Physicochemical Properties of processed Japanese Spanish Mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius

Abstract Japanese Spanish Mackerel (JSM) Scomberomorus niphonius (Cuvier 1832) is an important commercial fish species in South Korea. The postharvest handling, preservation, and storage of JSM have not been clearly understood, and therefore, it is very often oxidized to produce off‐flavor while marketed as the raw or frozen state. To overcome these problems, the present study was designed to adapt the hot smoke processing technique for improving the sensorial, physicochemical, and microbial qualities of JSM with extended shelf life. The hot smoking (70°C) with different sawdusts at the different smoke times (0, 20, 25, and 30 min) was applied to process JSM fillet. The smoked JSM obtained higher sensory attributes (appearance, odor, taste, color, texture, and overall preferences) and suppressed bacterial growth, pH, volatile base nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive species, and trimethylamine N‐oxide at an optimum smoking time of 25 min using oak sawdust. Moreover, it possessed higher nutritional value and beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 4.19 g/100 g, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 1.82 g/100 g. The smoked JSM product extended shelf life up to 42 days at 10°C storage temperature. The overall findings indicate that the hot smoking technology with JSM could be effective in achieving good sensorial, nutritional, and functional attributes to the consumer

Dendritic Cells (DCs)-Based Cancer Immunotherapy: A Review on the Prospects of Medicinal Plants and Their Phytochemicals as Potential Pharmacological Modulators

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells in humans and animals that provide antigen-specific T-cell immunity in the body. It also establishes a linkage between innate and adaptive immune responses. Various studies have shown that malignancies or cancer may impair DCs and effector T-cell functions. DCs have now become a new molecular target for the treatment of cancer. Modified matured DCs could be novel biological modifiers to treat various diseases, including cancer. This review aims to provide an update on the impacts of various plant materials and their phytochemicals on DC-based cancer immunotherapy. Existing literature on DC-based cancer immunotherapy and plant-based pharmacological modulators has been explored over the last decade using various online databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus. Mounting evidence from preclinical and clinical findings suggests that various plants and their bioactive phytochemicals are effective in modulating the immune system and signaling pathways involved in anti-tumor immunity. Despite the prospective role of herbs in DC-based cancer immunotherapy, most of the studies are limited by either preclinical models or crude plant extracts. This review provides a useful perspective for developing potential plant-derived pharmacological modulators in DC-based cancer immunotherapy